French President, Nicolas Sarkozy has suggested that children as young as three should be learning to speak English. The suggested change in the education policy has sparked fierce debate and staunch right wing traditionalists have called it a fad akin to learning German during the occupation.

However, the President will face further controversy because his educational reform will see some 1000 language teachers lose their jobs over the coming year.

Last week in my vlog I suggested that we needed to make a greater effort in this country with our language education. British students do not learn a language until secondary school and only have to learn one language. This isn’t good enough. It might be considered too young to teach a three-year-old a foreign langauge but whatever else it shows commitment to an important part of a child’s development. You can read more on the story here.

Mark Serwotka, the leader of the PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) wrote an interesting article for the Daily Telegraph last week. He asserts that his members (civil servants) are modestly paid despite popular misconceptions and average wages of £22,850. They are suffering in the crunch, expected to take on increased work loads and for less return.

He sets out a convincing argument as to why the only option for his members will be to hold strike action. In fairness he is not saying this is the most desired option, but after exhausting all other avenues it is almost the last resort in order to fight for fair pay. You can read the article in full here.

Finally Ed Balls, the new shadow chancellor wrote an article for the Daily mirror this week. He explained how the Government had inherited an economy beginning to show signs of recovery with strong growth of 1.1 % with unemployment falling and inflation low.

But within months this potential was knocked and the Chancellor blamed it on the weather.

In addition business leaders pointed out, and as Balls highlights in his article, the Conservatives have not set out any real plan for growth. You can read the Shadow Chancellors article in full here.

One response to “Honeyball’s Weekly Round Up”

I remember that our last government got itself terribly exercised about children speaking a foreign language. If my memory serves me well, they demanded that all children at secondary schools learn a foreign language and then they backtracked on the idea and the situation reverted to normal. Plus ça change plus c’est la même chose.

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A pro-European feminist of a pacifist disposition, I have represented the capital in the European Parliament since 2000.

News and views on London, the EU, women’s rights and, of course, the European Parliament will all be covered on my website.